Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-06-04

y
ed in frilled white cap, with pink
reaching down to the hem of her dress,
brought In tea on silver-plated tray
''Have a cup of tea, dear aunt"
smiled Coquette, land Mary Ann VIII
take your hat and shawl"
'.How many girls do you keep" said
Aunt Tabby, who was perpetual series
Of interrogations, but who, fortunatel..
never stopped talking long enough for
her questions to be answered. Harry
must sell lots Of pictures to keep up this
sort Of thing-ehp / always said that
Harry was the genius of the family.
And you've married well. Harry! Wen,
/ am gladT'
The door opened here, and stout
elderly gentleman entered with a great
deal of hustle.
1--WE called to look at this marine
picture." said he. "Hope l don't in
trude." with comprehensive bow all
around to the ladies, "but am exceed
ing-ly anxious to secure this, for an out
of town customer of mine. who is col
lecting q gallery. What do you ask
for it. Radcliffe? Come-put it at the
lowest cash price. I'll give thousand
for il, and won't give penny more"
You're too late" said Harry. with
chuckle. "Bonstettin has ordered it at
twelve hundred
Twelve hundredr' exclaimed the
picture-dealer- -"Bonstcttin! but he
shan't have it, I'll say fifteen hundred
sooner than thatr'
I'm sorry" observed Harry; ''but it
WAS painted expressly to order for him."
Couldn't you duplicate itp"
81 never duplicate any of my pictures.
"But something like it? Come-a
Venice view with lots of moonlight a
gondola. and big smudge Of shadow
in the left-han.. corner. with an assas-
sin lurking there-eh? Something with
Il motive"
..La!" exclaimed Aunt Tabby, under
her breath.
"lll think it over. and let you know"
said Radcliffe, languidly. '.At present
I've got as much as can do"
Which was unfortunately an indubit-
able fact as our poor young hero was
not yet strong enough to handle mahl-
stick.
The dealer-no other than De Kaye
in masquerade-retreate grumbling.
''Aunt Tabby's eyes scintillated joy
fully.
Harry" she cried. you're on the
high road to fortune! You certainly
are!'
II hope SO. aunt" said the young
man, wearlly.
Two other customers, apparently all
eagerness. arrived during the course
of the evening. One carried off the
picture of basket OF luscious peaches
upturned in a nest Of hay; the other
made conditional bargain for bunch
of daisies in q slender green vase.
against background Of wine-colored
draperies.
| A delicate little supper of lobster GRO
| quettes. chocolate, and salad, was serv-
ed at eight, and Aunt Tabby went to
bed rejoicing in the luxurious apart
ment with stained-glass window and
Florentine hangings, which Mr.. De
Kaye had vacated specially on her ac-
count.
'.Why don't everybody turn artistP"
she said, to herself ''lt's q business
where one can positively coin money.
Harry has improved wonderfully, and
that wife of his is the sweetest woman l
ever sawT'
She staid only two or three days in
the Wycherly Building. Aunt Tabitha
Talbot always was restless soul. and
could no more abide in one place thon
the wandering south wind.
But when she went hoEIe she sent for
a. lawyer, and made her will in her
Nephew Harry's favor. Nor was it any
too soon. for she died Of apoplexy with
in three months.
J Poor old Aunt Tabby." said tho
young artist. Il only wish she could
have lived to be as old as Methuselah.
But now that she has no further use for
her money, must own that it comes
uncommonly convenient to us-eh,
Coquette?"
do you know, Harry" said Coquette.
who was just writing q letter to invite
five sisters to come and visit her, 1--WE
often questioned myself rs to whether
we did right in making Aunt Tabby
believe we were 20 prosperous?"
Gould a man help being prosperous
with wife like you. Coquette?"
do hush. Harry! But can't think
it war altogether wrong when recall
that that day seemed the turning point
of all our fortunes. Orders really began
to come in after that Everything went
WE'LL"
''One thing is very certain" said
Harry. Il never should have amount
ed to anything without you. CoquStte. :"
And he checked her remonStrance
with kiss